Fortunately Dudley the duck did not have to pick up the bill after undergoing the pioneering procedure in British Colombia, Canada

Lucky duck Dudley is the latest creature to benefit from pioneering 3D printing technology after his leg fell off in an attack.

The five-month-old fowl, from British Colombia in Canada, has been pictured walking tall after being fitted out with a movable plastic webbed leg.

He has found a mate and is even standing up to animals that are 10 times his size thanks to the ingenious contraption which was designed free of charge by mechanical engineer Terence Loring.

Loring was contacted by the son of Sicamous-based K9-1-1 Animal Rescue and Services owner Debbie Fortin after the newly rescued bird was injured in an attack by a vicious group of chickens in one of the centre's enclosures.

He took took two weeks to design the movable leg that is made out of light and strong plastics and had it printed for free by 3D printing company Proto3000 in Ontario.